Caterpillar in France

[chriscokid]

can not read much Romanian but it has some neat photos

http://www.bm-cat.ro/bm-cat-romania-compania-Istoric

[bruce oz]

hello ,transladed for you ,grap is were each pic was ,bruce oz



HISTORY
In 1929, only four years of Caterpillar Tractor Co.''foundation''by Benjamin Holt and Daniel Best (USA), Berger Monnoyeur, a family company in France, joining the network of Caterpillar dealers and became distributor only its products and services in France.




1906-1929: Since the founding group to specialize in earth moving equipment


In the early twentieth century, when France was entering industrial French firms importing machinery from England, a country located on the top of the industrial revolution.

In France, Henry Berger, entrepreneur and visionary, founded in 1906, Together with his cousin, Francis Monnoyeur company''Hy. Berger & Cie.''. The aim of the company was importing industrial machinery supplied by world famous companies such as Armstrong-Whitworth, for machine tools and special steels, and Ruston-Proctor, the steam excavators.

Interested in technical progress, Francis Monnoyeur participate in numerous exhibitions, discovered in 1929, During a business trip in Spain,''car''future,''THIRTY''famous Caterpillar bulldozer.



On December 6, 1929Francis Monnoyeur signs the contract that allows the company''Hy. Bergerat Monnoyeur & Cie.''to become the exclusive agent''Caterpillar Tractor Company''In France.



In 1931, new equipment of the future: Caterpillar diesel tractor SIXTY''CAT''(picture).



Caterpillar's founders are Benjamin Holt, inventor of the first vehicle on the tracks''Holt Caterpillar''and Daniel Best, manufacturer of agricultural machinery. Two companies merged in 1925, Forming the Caterpillar Tractor Co.''''.

Since then, the two companies (Hy Bergerat Monnoyeur & Cie and Caterpillar Tractor Co.) have developed together. Thus, pitch control system (ride control), applied to Caterpillar loaders, was invented by a technician from Bergerat Monnoyeur France.



Thanks trading Caterpillar machines, and quality after sales services, Berger Monnoyeur became a specialist in the field of earthmoving machinery.


For over 80 years, Caterpillar creates tools and technologies that are standards in the field, becoming the technological leader and largest manufacturer of construction equipment, mines, quarries and gravel pits, diesel and gas engines, industrial machinery.

1929-1960: A company dedicated to its clients

In that era, in Europe, no equivalent for Caterpillar equipment. Offering its customers excellent quality and complete equipment for their needs, Henry Berger and Francis Monnoyeur completed their offer with a proximity service that has become an important strategic asset.

So, since 1938The first branch is created in Toulouse. Bergerat Monnoyeur earn their step by step, through the sale of a famous mark Caterpillar earthmoving equipment. Caterpillar equipment reliability, quality service and customer proximity, during the second world war, created long-term links between Monnoyeur Bergerat and clients.



By the '60s, the two partners will develop regional implantation, opening branches in Bordeaux, Nancy, Lyon, Marseille and Lille.



1961-1969: Berger Monnoyeur become a reference in used earthmoving equipment


In a favorable economic environment, the company is expanding its after-sales service, answering specific requests of its customers. Company increase the number of regional service workshops and specialized workshops open (marine engines, trucks, mobile cranes).

The crisis affects the 80 public works but, thanks to the quality of its services, the company continues to develop.

In 1981, Berger became Monnoyeur Caterpillar dealer in Algeria. After that, the group shall diversify its activities in areas manupularii of goods and energy.

90s: the birth of the pole Monnoyeur and Caterpillar

Expansion continued in Bergerat Monnoyeur next decade, opening branches in Romania (1991) and Poland (1997).

Develop activities in Romania by Renault car imports, trucks, Renault Trucks and John Deere agricultural equipment.



Leader in selling equipment for public works, also present in other areas such as handling of goods and energy, Berger Monnoyeur continued diversification of products and services, and doing a reorganization of its activity. Thus, was born in 1994, Groupe Monnoyeur organized as follows:

- Bergerat Monnoyeur Manutention (now APROLIS, which sells forklifts Caterpillar brand)

- Bergerat Monnoyeur Energy (now ENERIA, which sells brand Caterpillar engines and generator sets)

- Bergerat Monnoyeur International (now Magellan, which sells world-brand products by Bergerat Monnoyeur Algerie in Algeria and Romania by IPSO)

- Bergerat Monnoyeur Travaux Publics, which became in 2001 Bergerat Monnoyeur



Customer group diversified in various fields such as public works, agriculture, industry, construction, etc..



From selling the lease of equipment Caterpillar


After all these years and has earned a reputation by selling earthmoving equipment, Berger Monnoyeur expanded its activities in the field of short-term rental of machinery and equipment for construction, by achzitionarea, in 1997, the company Slevmi, which became Bergerat Monnoyeur Location.



In 2005, Berger Monnoyeur continues its expansion, Caterpillar became the exclusive importer in Belgium and Luxembourg.



Small business of import and distribution of industrial products, with the debut year in 1906, has accompanied all major events and development of the twentieth century, becoming what is today: an international group present in over 10 countries.

[Tom Madden]

How can Cat Inc. and its dealers have the history of Caterpillar so screwed up. This post regarding the French dealer and the history of Caterpillar once again includes Ben Holt and Daniel Best in the discussion of the history but NOT C.L. Best. This is an absolute travesty!!

Who invented the high drive? C.L.Best. Who invented dif steering? C.L. Best. Who invented the 60 and the 30 that kicked the living shit out of Holt and brought Holt to its knees? C.L Best. Who controlled the Board Room and the Officer corps of the new Caterpillar Company following the takeover and the combination of assets of Best and Holt? The Best folks. Who was the first Chairman of the Board of Caterpillar serving from 1925 until his death in 1951? C.L. Best.

The consistent ignoring of the actual history of CAT, Inc. is a joke. Someone in Peoria needs to pull their head out and state history as it actually happened.

[Catman]

Tom, I agree 100 %, with your view, yeap C.L. BEST had it in the bag, while Holt where working on production Machines for the Army, Best was hard at the Drawing Board, and talking to guys in the field, the Best Machines the 30 / 60, Carried on for years under the CAT Partnership. I guess Best only joined with Holt, to get there Pennies in the Pot, and work through the Great Depression years. Some of the UK Guys think that Glasgow was the 1st Cat Manufacturing Site outside of USA ??, I have Records showing more Cats where produced over the 1st 12 month in OZ than the UK plant and the UK only producing 1/4 of that of the Oz's. If I am Correct, Cat had a Tie-in Manufacturing Facility with Russia in the late 30's ???, and the UK / OZ cat Facilities where operational around about 1958.


Best TrackLayers are No 1. :)

Catman ( AKA Byron)

[Catman]

Tom I Forgot to Ask, Who Built the Best 25 Machine? :cool: I think the Best 25 is Like a scale Model of the Best 60 ;) , When was the Model of the HumpBack Best Made ?, Before or after the Best 25 ??.

I am Interested in the early Developments from the Transition of BEST / HOLT into the early years of CAT.

Catman

[bruce oz]

hello catman ,info from g.t.barnard book .

the elevated sprocket best 30 was built from 1914-15 and replaced by the best 30hp tracklayer in 1915 .
the best 25 was built from 1918-20 and replaced by the new best 30 of 1921
C L Best set up a new factory at elmhurst california in 1911 after leaving the Holt company.

hope that help ,tom may have more info ,bruce oz

[Tom Madden]

Byron:

Bruce has his facts straight, more than I can say for CAT.

[Gavin84w]

There's an english tab at the top of the BM page!!